Harish Makam 21 Dec 2022 1 year ago When it comes to auto dealership success, there are countless marketing strategies and tactics you can focus on. But one of the most powerful — yet often overlooked — tools is text messaging. Text messaging can help your automotive business streamline customer service, increase engagement with customers, and even close more deals! In this article, we’ll discuss 10 actionable tips for using text messaging to get the most out of each sale. So whether you run a small used car lot or a large new car dealership chain, these text messaging tips are sure to help you take your sales game to the next level. Table of Contents Keep Your Messages Short and SweetGet To The Point QuicklyUse Auto-Responses SparinglyTiming is EverythingDon’t Be a RobotUse Proper Grammar And SpellingOffer IncentivesMake Sure you have the Customer’s PermissionRespond Quickly to InquiriesFollow-Up PromptlyThe Bottom Line Keep Your Messages Short and Sweet Text messaging can be a powerful tool to reach out to potential customers and close more deals. Short messages are easier for customers to read, understand, and respond to quickly, making it more likely that they will take action. Furthermore, short messages don’t require as much effort from the customer, resulting in higher engagement and response rates. Additionally, shorter messages are more likely to be shared and forwarded, giving your dealership a boost in visibility with potential customers. By keeping messages short and sweet, auto dealerships can take advantage of the power of text messaging and close more deals. Get To The Point Quickly When it comes to auto dealership text messaging, getting to the point is key. Text messages should be concise and direct, with a call-to-action that encourages customers to take action. An effective message will clearly explain what the customer stands to gain from taking action — such as discounts or special offers — and why they should do so now. By getting to the point and being clear about what’s in it for the customer, auto dealerships can increase customer engagement and close more deals. Use Auto-Responses Sparingly Auto-responses are a useful tool in that they can save time and effort by automatically responding to customers with prewritten messages. That said, auto-responses can come across as impersonal and even robotic, making it difficult to build a meaningful connection with customers. Therefore, auto dealerships should use auto-responses sparingly and focus on crafting personalized messages that are tailored specifically to each customer. By taking the time to write personalized messages, auto dealerships can make customers feel valued and appreciated, and close more deals. Timing is Everything When it comes to auto dealership text messaging, timing is everything. To maximize engagement and response rates, it’s important to send texts during business hours — when customers are most likely to be available and have time to read them. Furthermore, sending messages too early or too late can come across as intrusive and off-putting. By focusing on sending messages during business hours and avoiding times when customers are likely to be busy or asleep, auto dealerships can increase engagement and close more deals. Don’t Be a Robot While it’s important to be direct and to the point with your auto dealership text messages, don’t forget to be personable. Texts should reflect the friendly and helpful attitude of your staff, so customers can connect with you on a personal level. Customers are more likely to respond positively and take action when they feel like they’re talking to an actual person and not a robot. By letting your personality shine through in your messages, auto dealerships can build relationships with customers and close more deals. Use Proper Grammar And Spelling When it comes to auto dealership text messages, proper grammar and spelling are key. Poorly written messages can come across as unprofessional and sloppy, which can make customers less likely to take action. To ensure that your messages are clear and professional-looking, be sure to use correct grammar and spelling in all of your texts. By avoiding sloppy mistakes, auto dealerships can make a good impression on customers and close more deals. Offer Incentives Incentives are a great way to encourage customers to take action and close more deals. Offering discounts or special offers in exchange for taking a certain action — such as scheduling a test drive or making a purchase — can be an effective way to boost engagement and response rates. To maximize the impact of incentives, it’s important to make sure that they’re clearly communicated and easy to understand. By offering compelling incentives, auto dealerships can increase customer engagement and close more deals. Make Sure you have the Customer’s Permission Before sending customers any auto dealership text messages, it’s important to make sure that they have given you permission to do so. Customers may not be comfortable receiving unsolicited texts and could become irritated or even angry if they receive them without their consent. To avoid this, always ask for customers’ permission before sending them any texts. By seeking the customer’s permission first, auto dealerships can ensure that their messages are welcomed and not perceived as intrusive. This will help them build strong relationships with customers and close more deals. Respond Quickly to Inquiries When customers reach out to auto dealerships with inquiries, it’s important to respond as quickly as possible. Customers who don’t get a response in a timely manner may become frustrated and look elsewhere for their car needs. To avoid this, auto dealerships should make sure that they have someone available at all times to answer customer inquiries promptly. By responding quickly to customer inquiries, auto dealerships can provide excellent customer service and close more deals. Follow-Up Promptly Finally, it’s important to follow up promptly after receiving a customer inquiry. Customers may not take action if they don’t hear back from your dealership in a timely manner, so make sure you follow-up quickly and don’t let too much time pass before responding. By following up promptly with customers, auto dealerships can ensure that their messages are heard and that they have the best chance of closing more deals. The Bottom Line By following these 10 auto dealer text messaging tips, dealerships can increase customer engagement, provide excellent customer service, and close more deals. With careful planning and thoughtful execution, your auto dealership will be able to maximize customer outreach efforts and reach its business objectives. Harish Makam Share this: